Pipe-cleaner.



PATEN'I'ED SEPT. 10, 190'7.

G. WALKER.

PIPE CLEANER.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 17. 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WALKER, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIPE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Applieationfiled February 17,1905. Serial No. 245,984.

VTo all whom 'it-may concern:

Be it known that I GEORGE WALKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Cleaners, of which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipe-cleaners, and consists of certain improvements in articles of that class which are designed as pocket-devices for the convenience of pipesmokers.

While the invention presently to be described is capable of embodiment in a great variety of useful and ornamental forms, its embodiment in the well known article illustrated in the accompanying drawings is suftions, and I will therefore address my description to such embodiment.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a side view of one form of a tool or implement containing my invention; and Fig. 2`is an enlarged longitudinal section through the middle of the stem of such tool.

Exteriorly the stem l, provided at its end with a tamper or foot 2 for packing the tobacco in the bowl of a pipe, is substantially similar to the devices heretofore well known and in common use.l A pick or blade 3 and a spoon 4 for loosening and removing tobacco which becomes packed in the bowl of a pipe, may be pivotedto the stem 1 as shown. These parts are well known to pipe-smokers. In pursuance of my invention however, the stem 1 constitutes a sheath provided with a bore 5 extending thrbugh the sheath. Within the sheath 1 is a removable cleaner-rod 6 to be used for cleaning out the stern of a pipe. The cleaner-rod is provided with a head 7, .ind -is preferably made of a flexible material such as metal wire, so that it may be. used in a curved pipe stern las well as in a straight stem. The upper or entering end of the sheath is'provided with a removablecap, herein shown as the cap 8, counter-sunk and interiorly threaded on its under side to coperatewith an exteriorly threaded projection 'upon the end of the sheath proper. The top of the cap is centrally perforated'toadmit of the entrance of the cleaner-rod, and the perforation is so proportioned with reference lto the cleaner-rod as to permit the cleaner rod to move freely to prevent the rod from binding, and to prevent the edges of the perforation from scraping from the rod matter 'which may have accumulated thereon, The bore of the sheath provides frictional engagement with the rod 6 preferably along its entire length to guard against accidental dislodgment of the rod; though it will be obvious that such engagement for a part of the length of the bore will suffice for the purpose. The top of the cap is hollowed or countersunk about the perforation as shown at 9 to form a'cavity between the sheath end and the head 7. The chief purpose of this cavity is to keep the head 7 clean. It also serves torguide (the,

endV of the rod into the\ sheath. Considerable nicotin of a gummy consistency adheres to the rod 6 after using it to clean a pipe stem, and is necessarily partially scraped off at the mouth of the sheath when the cleanerrod is inserted therein. If .the top of the c ap, which constitutes the end of the sheath, were flat, such nicotin would come into Contact with the head 7 and make it disagreeable to handle. In` the above described construction however any such accumulation about the mouth of the sheath lodges in the cavity 9 and does not soil the head 7. As an alternative for, or in addition to the cavity 9, the head 7 may be hollowed on the undei` side as shown in Fig. 2.

In order that the rod may be kept clean and in proper condition for use, I provide at or near the mouth of the sheath a cleaner pad which may be of blotting paper, felt, or other suitable absorbent material. Such pad is preferably removable so that it may be replaced by another when it becomes soiled, and herein shown as the disk-shaped pad 10, held between the cap and the end of the sheath proper, and centrally perforated for the passage of the rod 6. The perforation is small enough to engage snugly with the rod when the latter is inserted in the sheath. Thus it will be seen that the rod will be cleaned after use by the mere insertion of the rod in the sheath and`withdrawa1 of it therefrom, the pad 10 acting as a'wiper. l Notwithstandingthe cleaner lpad 10, dust or dirt may tend to accumulate in the bore 5 of the sheath which it would be impossible or difficult. 85

to clean out if the lower end of the bore were closed.

Accordingly I provide a sheath open at both ends by extending the bore completely through the sheath, and thus prevent the tendency to clog the sheath.

1. As a new article of manufacture, 'a pipe-cleaner comprising a headed, exible cleaner-rod, and a sheath therefor, the sheath being provided with an absorbent or other suitable material adapted torclean the rod. V

2. A's a new article of manufacture, a pipe-cleaner comprising a headed, exible cleaner-rod, and a sheath therefor the.end of which is hollowed about the mouth to provide a cavity between the sheath end and head of the rod.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a pipe-clea er comprising a headed, flexible cleaner-rod, and a sheath therefor,' the entering end of which is provided with a removable cap having a perforation adapted to permit the passage of said rod, the top of the cap`being hollowed about the perforation. i

4. As a new article of manufacture, a pipe-cleaner 'comprising a headed, flexible cleaner-rod, and a sheath therefor provided at or near its mouth with a removable perforated cleaner-pad.

for the entering end of which is provided-with a removable cap having a perforation adapted to admit of thepassage of said rod, the under side of the cap being. countersunk and containing a removable cleaner-pad -adapted to wipe the rod when the latter is inserted in or withdrawn from the sheath. p 7. As a new article of manufacture, a pipe-cleaner comprising a headed, iiexible cleaner-rod, and a sheath .therefor, provided with a centrally` perforated cap screwed on to the end of the sheath, and a removable centrally perforated pad of absorbent material held between the sheath and the cap and adapted to wipe the cleaner-rod when the latter is inserted .in or removed from the sheath.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a pipe-)cleaner comprising' a headed, `flexible cleaner-rod, and a sheath therefor open at both ends and provided at the entering end with a removable centrally perforated cap, the underside of the cap being countersunk and containing a removable cleaner-pad adapted'to Wipe the rod,l and the upper side of the cap being hollowed about the perforation, substantally as described.

Signed by-me at Boston, Mass., this fourteenth day ot February, 1905.

GEORGE WALKER.

Witnesses ROBERT CUsHMAN, JOSEPH T. BRENNAN. 

